On Friday, we shared the news that Kyle Shanahan has turned down an opportunity to interview for the offensive coordinator job with the 49ers.
There wasn’t a specific reason given for that decision, but it seems the 49ers may wind up with a Shanahan on their coaching staff anyway.
Dianna Marie Russini of NBC4 in Washington reported the news on Shanahan and she’s now reporting that Mike Shanahan is “in play” for the offensive coordinator job on Jim Tomsula’s staff. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com has heard the same, although he reports only that Shanahan could take a job on the coaching staff.
Shanahan was the 49ers offensive coordinator from 1992 to 1994, working with Steve Young and winning a Super Bowl before heading to Denver as a head coach.
It would be quite an unexpected development for the elder Shanahan to return to the NFL as an assistant coach at 62 after three head coaching stints, but it would give Colin Kaepernick an experienced guide as he tries to rebound from a rough 2014 season while also beefing up the experience around Tomsula as he embarks on his first permanent head coaching gig.